Christmas lights lit up half of the city as crazy shoppers flocked shopping malls for the last minute of shopping. Christmas was only a good three days away and excitement was certainly in the house. "Peace on Earth, good will toward men. Ah! The joy of giving totally juices me up!" Samuel Guthrie was telling Amara Aquilla. They were both heading to the sitting room.
"What on Earth are you? Saint Sam?" she laughed as they entered the room. Jean and Scott were doing the Christmas tree. "And the finishing touch," Jean said as she telekinetically placed a golden star on the top of the tree. Scott replied, "yeah."
The professor beamed, "Ah! To be young again." Wolverine sipped his hot coffee slowly, "yeah, glad that's over." The professor raised an eyebrow, "well," he said ignoring Logan gruff words, "With Ororo and Evan away to New York and many of them going home today and tomorrow, it looks like things will be very quiet around here." Wolverine didn't care much for Christmas. " Yeah, well, I'm going to play pool and tell the kids it's gonna' be OFF limits." He then walked off.
"Oh, like, thanks Jean." Kitty said as she took out an angel brooch from a neatly wrapped blue box. "Hey, this is just what I wanted!" Jubilee said. "I bet Bobby won't give anything like this to me anyway." Bobby caught her words, "hey! Who says I won't?" "Well, ME!" Jubes replied as she gave Bobby a friendly punch on the shoulder.
"This is so sweet, Jean. Thanks!" Amara said with a grin. Jean crossed her legs, "why, you're welcome, guys." Jean looked up at the fireplace where Scott and Rogue were at. She frowned hard.
"It's going to be pretty quiet with all these people leavin home tomorrow."
Scott replied, "yeah, yeah. We'll miss them."
Rogue pushed her hair back, "Hey, ah got something for you."
Scott took the gift as Rogue pressed him to open it now. "It's a Christmas gift from me."
"Oh," Scott tore open the gift and took out a blue sweater. "But…I haven't got anything for you yet."
"It's Ok, you'll find something, I bet."
Jean frowned some more. What was it with them anyway?
Kitty hopped out from her place in the couch and walked over to where the professor was, at the other side of the room. "Um, professor? Can I talk to you for a second about something?"
The professor nodded, "why sure, Kitty? Now, what's the matter?"
Kitty said, "Professor, can you please get another ticket for me to Illinois? If you disagree, that's OK, I won't mind."
"It's for Lance, isn't it?"
"Did you…?"
"No. I didn't have to read your mind. I know it."
Kitty pleaded, "Please, professor."
"I say yes, Kitty but what about your parents?"
Kitty kinda' cringed, "Not yet, but they will. They've always loved me and they'll agree to what I want, no doubt."
"Right Kitty. I'll pass you the ticket tomorrow. Is that OK?"
"Thank you, Professor! You're the best." With that, Kitty phased out of the room.
Kitty phased into the shared bedroom of she and Rogue. She almost took Rogue cell phone by mistake. Scrolling down to the name, 'Lance'. Click, dial and connect…
The Brotherhood Boarding House…
Toad laughed, " Lancey! I think your phone ringin!" He was sitting on top of the chest of drawers in Lance's room and he was digging his ear. On a closer look, Toad smirked and shouted, "and there's your Kitty-poo's number on it too." A light tremor shook as Lance dashed up to the room.
"Gimme that you, bone-head!" Lance yelled. Toad was holding Lance's phone in his yucky hands, clinging on a picture on the wall. "Heh, let me answer that for you, Lance."
Toad pressed the 'answer' button, "Hi, kitty-kat. If you're looking for Lance…heh! I'll say he's…erupting!"
Lance avalanche the wall, causing Toad to fall flat on the ground. "I'll take that and you'll get rocked once I'm done, you." Lance grabbed the cell phone away and said, "Hi, Kitty. Sorry about that…you know."
Kitty said, "I know that was just Toad, Lance. I wanna' ask you something."
"Shoot." Lance slammed the door of his room once Toad hopped out. Let's see how Pietro and Toad can sneak on my calls again.
"Can…can you come to Illinois? With me?" Kitty blurted.
Lance scratched the back of his head and then ruffled his hair. "Kitty, I don't fit in there anymore, and I know that your parents won't like me there."
"No, Lance. I'll tell them. I'll explain!"
"Forget it, Kitty. I've once tried to kill them and Miss jean I-am-perfect Grey. And even…you. I know I'll never fit there. Not anymore."
"Aw, come on Lance! It'll be a break for you. Just take it as a vacation."
"Sorry, Kitty…I won't come."
Kitty voice went quiet. "Alright then, Lance. I won't, like, make you come or anything. Um…bye."
Lance knocked his head. Alvers, are you stupider than Freddy or what? This is Kitty asking you and you are an idiot to turn her down. She's paying for the trip there you no-brainer. Now, say SOMETHING before she hangs up!
"Woah, Kitty, wait! Don't hang up yet. You know what? I've thought about it…maybe you're right. I should go. It has been a long time since I visited Illinois already. So, count me in the trip, Kitty. I'll go."
Kitty smiled, " really? Oh, wow! Ok. Tomorrow, meet me at the airport at 9 in the morning, Lance. Like, Love you! Bye!"
"Yeah, sure. See you tomorrow" click
Lance hung up too. "Wait a minute! Did I here what I thought I heard?"
"So remember to bag something for us!" Bezerker said.
"Yeah, please get me a comforter OK!"
"Why do you need a comforter anyway? Preparing to open a comforter-shop in the future?"
"None of your business Bobby!" Jubes yelled back.
Dozens of requests for gifts and good-byes flooded the air. For one thing, this is gonna be one, good Christmas. Or so it seems.
Scott and Rogue stood on top on the stairs, waving the home-go-ers off. Scott, as most would have noticed, was wearing the sweater Rogue gave yesterday. Jealousy rounded Jean as she waved back in her parents' car, her hair falling in front.
Mr and Mrs Grey, Jean's parents were here to pick their daughter back to Connecticut, mid way dropping Kitty Pryde at the airport so she could fly back to Illinois to meet her parents too. It was going to be a loooonggg trip.
"Thanks, Jean. For the ride I mean." Kitty said. Jean's mind didn't seem to give Kitty her full attention at all. "Oh, um, that's OK. No problem." Jean said, staring out at the white blanket of snow covering the city as they drove on.
"Uh, Jean? Are you feeling OK or something?"
Jean nodded slowly, "Yes. Just a headache…must have been a bad sleep composure from last night."
Kitty leaned back, "whatever you say then." But she didn't seem so sure at all. After all, Jean didn't seem right to her.
Facing Kitty was an airport busting with people, especially because of the festive season. "Thanks again, Jean," Kitty said as she slammed the door shut. "No problem. What are friends for?" Jean then drove away and disappeared down the road.
Just as Kitty walked in, she spotted Lance with a brown duffel bag, walking towards her with a grin. "Hey, Kitty!" Lance waved.
Kitty went over to Lance. "Like, Hiya, Lance. Um, is that all you are bringing?"
Lance nodded quickly, "Yeah, I'm a light packer and you know I'm not exactly made of stuff."
Kitty said, "I've told my parents about you, Lance. They just don't seem to remember who you are anymore."
"Oh, did you tell them both that I'm the rock-slide-scenario guy?"
Kitty giggled, "No of course. But I'm sure they won't really mind in either case."
Lance didn't seem sure at all. "Maybe, or not."
The plane had barely taken off for a good fifteen minutes when the insides of Lance Alvers started to turn upside down. Every few minutes, Lance had to slap his hand over his month and stop thinking about throwing up.
"Lance? Are you, like, feeling OK? You look…pale to me." Kitty said, concerned. She couldn't help but worry for him. It seemed stupid since a big guy like him, whose a good 18 years of age, to be afraid of flights but that was possible. There were bound to be millions whose just like Lance too.
"'Scuse me, Kitty…" Lance said and he rushed to the toilet and stayed in there for ten full minutes too. Kitty played with her hazel-colored hair. She just couldn't sit still until Lance was out. He'd be fine, wouldn't he? Sure, he's cool and he'd be OK. He's tough and he's a fighter too.
Lance came out looking a lot better alright. "Here, have some water, Lance." Kitty uncapped a bottle and gave it to Lance. Lance took several quick gulps before collapsing on the chair.
This wasn't going to be easy at all…
Lance woke up an hour later finding Kitty asleep on the side of his chest. She looked so peaceful and sweet it'd be a shame to wake her up. A smile drew across his lips. Kitty… …
Suddenly, the microphone sounded, "We've reached Deerfield, Illinois. All passengers thank you and please remember to take your belongings."
Kitty sat up almost immediately and Lance pretended to look like nothing's happen.
"Good sleep?" Lance asked.
Smiling, Kitty said, "Yeah, it was pretty OK for me. Like, you?"
"Oh, I'm fine, honest."
Kitty responded, "Uh, good."
They felt the plane touch down. The holidays were only just beginning…
"Daddy! Mummy!" Kitty threw her arms over her parents with delight. It just felt so good to see them again, after such a long, long time stuck in Bayville.
"Yes, honey! We're so glad to see you too!" Mrs Theresa (Teri) Pryde said. "Looks like my daughter's grown to be a matured young lady already." Mr Carmen Pryde remarked.
Kitty remembered Lance all of a sudden. "Daddy, Mummy, I'll like you to meet Lance Alvers." Kitty said, as she pulled Lance in front, smiling. "Now, who is this Lance I've heard so very much about?" Teri started.
On seeing Lance, her eyes widened and she took a step straight back. Carmen, however, stepped forward and pointed an accusing finger at Lance, "You! You almost made me lose my one and only family and my life! How dare you even-!" Kitty cut in, "No, Daddy! You're wrong about Lance! He's…he's changed! Daddy-!"
Carmen shouted at both Lance and Kitty, "I won't let him here, Kitty! I won't tolerate this!"
Kitty bit her lower lip, her hand still clinging on to Lance's strong arms. "That's alright, Daddy. If you want Lance gone…I'm going too."
"No! She hardly even visits, Carmen." Theresa Pryde said. "Not now, dear. Let's settle this at home. And we'll see how this young man is going to prove to us that we're wrong."
Carmen gave in, but barely. He wasn't about to give in that easily to him.
"Welcome to the Pryde residence! Here's your room, Sir Alvers! I believe everything's in order and oh, breakfast in our "motel" is 7am in the morning, Sir." Kitty laughed, as she showed Lance the spare room.
"Not bad! Not bad at all!" Lance said with a grin. He then opened the first drawer of the chest of drawers and emptied all the things in his duffel bag in it. "There! All unpacked!"
Kitty shrugged. So that's how he works. "Dinner's at 6 and if you need anything, my room's, like, just opposite. Get a wash up and- don't break anything." Kitty smiled, shutting Lance's door.
Kitty was just about to phase into the door of her room, when she noticed somebody shouting down in the Kitchen. And, boy, was it loud! It was pretty muffled and all, but hey, it was still shouting.
"I do not recommend her going out with that young man. How long do you think they've been seeing each other already?" came Carmen Pryde's voice.
Theresa Pryde yelled back, "But, isn't this Kitty's life? It's her choice if she does want to see him."
"I'm only helping her make it the right one!"
"You're being far too involved already!"
"That's because I'm her father!"
Kitty phased halfway through the door, holding her breath. It has been a long time since she saw her happily married parents ever fight. In fact, she had an odd feeling her stay here won't be very long at all.
"I…Kitty!" Her mother realized Kitty was at the door. Theresa Pryde sighed and grabbed the two dishes off the counter. "Kitty, please get Lance down for dinner in 2."
"Oh, OK." Kitty turned to face her father. "Daddy, please trust me. Lance really is a nice guy once you get to know him well. I care for him and…and nobody is going to change that. Kitty phased her hand into the cutlery drawer and then phased out of the door later on, leaving her father in the Kitchen.
While setting out the table, Kitty and Theresa had a mother/daughter moment.
"Sorry about…about your father back there. I want you to know that he didn't mean to say anything like that to Lance and that he was only concerned about you. We're not saying you can't go out with Lance but don't your school have…better boys?"
"Mummy, Lance is good enough for me. Don't get the wrong idea but Lance cares for me. He's a nice guy inside once you get to…know him better."
"Yes, dear. But I can't say much about your Father. You know how hot-headed and stubborn he is."
"Yeah, like, that's why I'm so happy I've inherited your temper." Kitty hugged her mother and dashed upstairs to get Lance down for dinner.
Teri wondered, "But is it a good thing?"
Through dinner, not one spoke a word. Except for Kitty and Lance stealing glances at each other every 5 seconds, only the sound of spoons and forks were heard.
Mr Pryde broke the silence first, "So, Lance, as far as I can recall, you cause earthquakes and isn't that a little too…dangerous?"
Lance nodded queasily. Kitty wanted to say something, however, Carmen broke in first, "How are your studies like then, Lance?"
It was pretty obvious that Carmen was out to get Lance but there wasn't much anyone can do.
Kitty said, "Lance aces in Chemistry and Gym mostly. He does pretty well in…uh, the other subjects." Truth was that Lance never aced at all in his other subjects at all. But she didn't care. She liked him.
This was really hard to answer. Obviously, Carmen only wants an answer from Lance, not Kitty. He didn't know how to answer this. The family seemed so 'prim-and-proper' and Lance felt like the odd one out. He should be thrown at the punk section, where all of these people never mixed with anyone else but their type. These people should call themselves 'Loser Club for, duh, Losers'. He certainly didn't seem to fit with Carmen Pryde's precious Kitty-Kat. And he won't either, ever.
"It alright if you don't wanna answer, Lance," Kitty whispered. But Lance felt no matter how lousy he was, he had to be honest with Kitty's father. Yeah, he has to be.
"I don't do very well in the other subjects, Mr Pryde. I fail most of em". Lance bend down into his food, his hands turning into solid fists.
"Well, it seems to me, you may not be part of this family, young man." With that, Carmen Pryde carried his dishes and went into the Kitchen.
Teri sighed as she picked up her dish and headed into the Kitchen after her husband.
Out in the balcony, Kitty and Lance looked up at the stars. "Look, Lance. I don't care what my parents may say or what they do.
"Well," Lance said, "You should care. After all, I'm nothing great and I don't want to ruin your life by asking you to be with me."
"Lance, I choose my own life, not them. I want to be with somebody I truly love."
"I know, Kitty. I'm just not good enough and never will be. You'll find somebody better than me." Lance found it so tough to say all this. He bowed his head down as he pondered on whether he was doing the right thing or not. It pained the both of them to hear such words.
"Lance! Why wouldn't you give yourself a chance? I want to be with the guy I really love and oh god, like, Lance, make that guy you!"
The words came out so very quickly that Kitty wasn't even sure herself whether it was her or not.
Lance looked at Kitty. She was teary and she was about to cry.
"Lance…" Kitty looked up at him. She was like, one head shorter than him but it didn't matter. "I…I really want you to be part of my life. Please, like, make that happen OK?"
Lance seemed to feel a lot stronger with these words. Why was he such a loser to give up so soon when not even Kitty gave up yet? What on Earth was he actually thinking?
Kitty found her arms throwing itself round Lance. All that matters now was that they love each other. Lance sniffed at Kitty hair. It had the smell of the shampoo she used but he liked it all the same. Kitty buried her face in Lance's chest, refusing to let go. Lance didn't try to pull away so she took it, as he wants to be with her.
Asking herself, "What could go any more wrong with this holiday," Kitty tip-toed so she could kiss Lance.
Unknown to them both, Carmen Pryde gritted his teeth in the house, watching them both with flaming anger.